Heavy downpours battered Delhi and the adjoining NCR region on Monday, throwing life out of gear with severe waterlogging, massive traffic jams, and flood warnings. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for the capital, cautioning of continued moderate to heavy rainfall.
Traffic Paralysis
Several stretches across Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad witnessed long snarls as waterlogged underpasses and low-lying areas turned into bottlenecks. Commuters shared visuals of vehicles stranded for hours, including a four-kilometre jam between Hero Honda Chowk and Narsinghpur on NH-48. At Gurugram’s Signature Tower Chowk underpass, knee-deep water brought traffic to a halt, while a leakage was also reported from a nearby flyover.
Waterlogging Chaos
In many parts of the NCR, waterlogging touched two to three feet, leaving motorists struggling to wade through flooded streets. The situation was compounded by rising Yamuna water levels, forcing the closure of the Old Railway Bridge (ORB) from Tuesday evening.
Flood Alert
Authorities sounded a flood alert after nearly 29,313 cusecs of water were discharged from the Hathnikund Barrage earlier in the day. The Delhi government directed officials to patrol embankment zones and move residents living close to the river to safer areas. A government order warned that the Yamuna’s water level at the Old Railway Bridge may surpass the danger mark of 206.50 metres, urging strict vigil at vulnerable points.
Flight Disruptions
Air travel was also affected, with major carriers cautioning passengers about possible delays. IndiGo advised flyers to plan their travel well in advance due to slow road movement towards the airport, while Air India also recommended checking flight status before departure.
Weather Conditions
The IMD reported cooler-than-usual temperatures for the season. Delhi recorded a minimum of 23.7°C, almost 3 degrees below average, while the maximum hovered near 30°C. Humidity levels remained high at 90% in the morning. While cloudy skies are expected to persist on September 2 without any weather warning, another round of showers accompanied by thunder and lightning has been predicted for September 3.
